Folding step-ladder.



Np. 870,940 PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907, A. DAHL.

FOLDING STEP LADDER.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. 1907.

jm a A 7'7'ORNEYS ALBERT DAHL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING STE P-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filel June 28. 1907. Serial No. 381,224.

To all whom ttlmay concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT DAHL, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding Step-Ladder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved folding step ladder, for use by painters, interior decorators and other persons, and capable of be- .ing folded into a comparatively small package to be conveniently carried from one place to another, and also of being readily extended for its legitimate use.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims. 7

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement showing the parts in extended positions, part being broken out; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional perspective view of part of the improvement; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the improvement in a folded position; Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view of a modified form of the improvement, and Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

The ladder is formed of a bottom section A and tread sections A, A A A mounted to slide one on the other, the top section A being provided with the usual top step B pivotally connected at the under side with an uppermost section 0 of a leg having the sections G, C slidable one on the other, similar to the tread sec-.

tions of the ladder.

The bottom section A of the ladder consists of the sides D, D rigidly connected with each other near their lower ends by a transversely extending rod E, and the upper ends of the sides D are provided with fixed bearings F extending inwardly to receive the sides'D of the next following tread section A, which in turn is provided at the upper ends of its sides with bearings F similar to the hearings on the sides of the bottom section A. In a like manner the several tread sections are provided with bearings F at their upper ends, for receiving the sides of the next following section, so that one section can conveniently slide in the other from an extended into a folded position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and vice versa.

The lower ends of the sides D, D of the tread. sections A, A A and A carry the treads G by the use of irons G secured to the lower ends of the sides D, and in order to lock the tread sections A, A A and A in an extended position, pins H are provided for engaging registering apertures in the bearings F and the irons G as well as the corresponding sides D of adjacent sections (see Figs. 3, 4, 5 and (5). Each of the pins H is preferably made U-shape and is hung on a chain 1, extending through an eye J, attached to the top of the corresponding bearing F, the end of the chain I terminating in a pin K, adapted to be inserted in a recess formed in the top of thebearing F. Thus when the pin H is inserted in the bearing F, iron-G and sides D, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 7, then the sections are locked in an extended position, and when the pins K are inserted in the bearings F, the locking pins H are locked in place against accidental displacement during the time the sections of the step ladder are extended.

As stated, the sections C, (V, C of the leg are similar in construction to the tread sections, and are for this purpose provided with bearings L, similar to the bearings F and receiving the sides of the leg sections, the parts when extended being locked together by pins N, similar to the locking pins H, so that further description of the same is not deemed necessary. The lowermost leg section C is reinforced by a cross 0, and the upper leg section 0 is provided with the usual extension board P for holding a pail or the like. A sectional brace Q is pivoted on one of the bearings L of the leg and is adapted to be locked upon a pin Q on one of the bearings F of the ladder.

In order to give more rigidity to the parts, I prefer to make the bearings F and the bearings L with angular flanges F (see Figs. 3 and 4), fitting corresponding grooves in the sides D sliding in the corresponding bearings F, and the irons G on each side D are provided with upwardly extending U-shaped members G fitting into the bearing F, and provided with flanges G engaging corresponding grooves in the sides D next below and to which the bearings F are secured.

It is understood that when the sections of the ladder and the leg are extended, they are securely locked in place by the pins H, which in turn are locked in place by the chains I, eyes J and pins K, and when it is desired to fold the said ladder it is only necessary for the operator to withdraw the pins K to release the pins H, then to withdraw the latter, to allow the several sections to slide down one on the other into a folded position, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The several sections of the step ladder when folded can be locked together by re-inserting the pins H'and locking the same in place by the chains I, the eyes.] and pins K, so that the folded step ladder forms a very small package and can be conveniently carried about from one place to another.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A folding step ladder comprising single tread sections slidable one on the other, the tread oi. the sections being at the lower ends thereof, means for fastening the said tread sections in place when in extended position, a leg hingedly connected with the top tread section and made in sections slidable one on the other, and means for fastening the said leg sections in place when extended.

2. A folding step ladder comprising a bottom section provided at its upper end with inwardly extending bearings, a plurality of single tread sections, each having sides, a tread connecting the sides with each other at the lower ends thereof, and bearings held on the upper ends of the said sides and extending inwardly, to be engaged by the sides of the adjacent section.

3. A folding step ladder comprising a bottom section provided at its upper end with inwardly extending bearings, a plurality of single tread sections each having sides, a tread connecting the sides with each other at the lower ends thereof, bearings held on the upper ends of the said sides and extending inwardly to be engaged by the sides of 'the adjacent section, the section adjacent the said bottom section having its sides slidable in the said bearings of the bottom section, and a locking device for locking each side in position in the corresponding bearing.

4. A folding step ladder comprising a bottom section provided at its upper end with inwardly extending bearings, a plurality of single tread sections each having sides, a tread connecting the sides with each other at the lower ends thereof, bearings held on the upper ends of the said sides and extending inwardly to be engaged by the sides of the adjacent section, the section adjacent the said bottom section having its sides slidable in the said bearings of the bottom section, and a locking device for locking each side in position in the corresponding bearing, the said locking device being in the shape of a U-shaped pin engaging registering apertures in a bearing and the corresponding side slidable thereon.

5. A folding step ladder having single tread sections, each section having sides, a tread connecting the sides with each other at the lower portions thereof, and bearings secured on the upper ends of the sides and extending inwardly toward each other, the bearings of one tread section being slidingly engaged by the sides of the next following tread section, and the bearings of one section forming a stop for the tread of the next tread section below.

6. A folding step ladder having single tread sections, each section having sides, a tread connecting the sides with each other at the lower portions thereof, bearings secured on the upper ends of the sides and extending inwardly toward each other, the bearings of one tread section being slidingly engaged by the sides of the next following tread section, and the hearings of one section forming a stop for the tread of the next tread section below, and fastening pins for locking the sections in an extended or folded position.

7. A folding step ladder having single tread sections, each section having sides, a tread connectingthe sides with each other at the lower portions thereof, bearings secured on the upper ends of the sides and extending inwardly toward each other, the bearings of one tread section being slidingly engaged by the sides of the next following tread section, and the bearings of one section lowing tread section, and the bearings of one section forming a stop for the tread of the next tread section below, folded position, and means for locking the said fastening pins in place.

8. In a folding step ladder, a plurality of sections, bearings at the upper ends of the sections and in which the sides of the section above slides, said bearings having angular flanges fitting in grooves in said sides, and tread irons secured to the lower ends of the sides of the sections and extending into the bearings and provided with flanges fitting in grooves of the sides of the section next below.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name ,to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ALBERT DAHL.

Witnesses THEO. G. I-Iosrnn, EVERARD B. MARSHALL. 

